Title - Mixed response to bandh in state

Sonepat :  Today’s bandh call given by various political parties, trade unions and social organisations against the hike in prices of diesel, a cap on LPG cylinders and the FDI in retail sector evoked a mixed response. Most of the shops and private commercial establishments in the interior areas of the town remained closed. Government offices and public sector banks functioned normally and the roadways bus and train services were also reported normal during the day. As a precautionary measure, police personnel were deployed at the strategic places in the town and there was no report of any untoward incident.Activists of different outfits, including the BJP, INLD, HJC, CPM, SUCI and the BKU (A), raised slogans against the UPA government and took out protest rallies in the town.However, the response in the outer localities and the rural areas was poor. There was no participation of the commercial transport unions in this bandh. Similar reports were also received from Gohana, Kharkhoda and Gannaur towns.

FARIDABAD: The bandh evoked a mixed response in Faridabad on Thursday. Shops in the main markets at Old Faridabad, NIT 1-V, Sarai Khawaja, 7/10 in Faridabad city and the main markets in nearby Ballabhgarh were closed in the morning. Business there was normal in the afternoon. INLD activists stopped the Palwal-Shakurpur Basti Shuttle Train and a cargo train at the Old Faridabad Railway Station for about 20 minutes. The blockade was lifted after the police’s intervention.

Sirsa: The bandh received a good response at Sirsa on Thursday. Shops and business establishments in most parts of Sirsa remained closed since morning. Activists of the INLD, BJP, HJC and the Left parties were seen raising slogans against the “anti-people” decisions of the UPA government in the markets. Reports of bandh were also received from Dabwali town.

Hisar: The bandh call evoked a mixed response here on Thursday. Most of the markets remained open in the early part of the day, but were closed later for a few hours. Schools and colleges, government offices, banks and other establishments functioned normally. Activists of the INLD and the BJP went around the markets requesting shopkeepers to shut down their shutters. Bus and train services remained unaffected.

Kurukshetra: A complete bandh was observed here on Thursday. All business establishments remained closed. INLD activists led by INLD state president and MLA Ashok Arora demonstrated and burnt an effigy of the UPA government near Maharana Pratap Chowk here. Meanwhile, activists of the BJP and the HJC burnt an effigy of the UPA government near Aggarsain Chowk here on Thursday.

Fatehabad: The bandh call evoked a partial response in Fatehabad on Thursday. Though all Opposition parties had given the call for the bandh and leaders of these virtually remained on the street throughout the day holding demonstrations, most of the shopkeepers lowered their shutters only as the political activists approached them and opened when they left. Reports of bandh were also received from Tohana and Ratia town in Fatehabad.

Gurgaon: The bandh call got a mixed response on Thursday. While shops and other business establishments in Sadar Bazar remained closed during the first half of the day, the newer localities of Gurgaon functioned normally. Banks and essential services like transport, health, water supply and electricity remained unaffected. The bandh call had little impact on the shopping malls and markets in HUDA sectors.

Kaithal: There was a mixed response to the bandh call here on Thursday. Activists of the INLD and the BJP took out processions in the town. They raised slogans against the proposal of the FDI and the hike in diesel prices. A large number of shops and other business establishments remained closed this morning whereas the markets were opened in Kaithal town, Kalayat Pundri and Cheeka this noon. However, bus and rail services remained unaffected.

Karnal/Panipat: The bandh call evoked a huge response from traders in Karnal and Panipat on Thursday. Rail and bus services and offices and educational institutions remained normal in Karnal, Panipat and other adjoining districts. INLD workers took out processions and rallies and stopped the Ambala-Delhi passenger train at Gharaunda for 10 minutes. SHO Gharonda Naib Singh reached the spot with adequate force and got the track cleared.

Jhajjar: The bandh evoked a good response in Bahadurgarh and Jhajjar towns on Thursday. All shops of the main markets of both towns remained closed in support of the bandh. Local leaders of various political parties took out rallies and sought the public’s support to topple the Union Government saying that it was trying to push the common man on the path of devastation by executing the “anti-people” policies.

Rewari: Traders observed a near total bandh here on Thursday. Activists of the BJP, HJC, the INLD and other parties held protests at the Moti Chowk and other main markets. Former state BJP chief Om Prakash Grover, district BJP president Laxman Singh Yadav, district INLD chief Sunil Yadav and other leaders addressed the protesters while flaying the UPA government for its “anti people” policies.